Sand removal on Longboat expected to begin early December

When will the sand be removed from Longboat Key’s main road, Gulf of Mexico Drive? 

That’s a question many residents ask while driving along the state-owned highway. Town officials say the removal process in early December as a part of the cleanup process. 

According to Assistant Director of Public Works Charlie Mopps, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will handle the sand removal process.

“As far as the sand, the state plans on starting that part of the removal process the week of Dec. 2,” Mopps said.

Similarly to the ongoing cleanup process on GMD, the town will not need to contribute any funds to the sand cleanup. This is a part of the state’s commitment to clean up the GMD corridor. 

“The FDOT has a contract and a mutual agreement with some agencies to help them along our corridor in the cleanup effort,” Mopps said.

Currently, the state is working on sweeps of GMD to remove vegetation debris and construction and demolition debris. Mopps said the state needs to clean up those debris types between now and Dec. 1. 

When the FDOT gets to the sand removal, dump trucks filled with the sand will be taken to the Manatee County sifting site, which will likely be the site currently stationed in the Coquina Beach parking lot.

After the State and FDOT remove the sand and hand it over to Manatee County, the sand will then be “owned” by Manatee County. 

“Because they’re the ones operating the sand sifting operation, they’re assuming responsibility of that material,” Mopps said. 

Mopps speculated, after the sand is sifted to ensure harmful debris is removed, it will only be used on Manatee County-owned beaches like Coquina Beach. 

At the town commission’s Nov. 12 workshop, commissioners will hear from Mopps and consultants hired by the town about the state of the town’s beaches. Mopps said data is still being finalized, but the initial estimates show a “fairly large” impact. 

Since it doesn’t look hopeful that the town will regain the sand left on GMD, the town will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure funds for future beach nourishment projects. 

“The town is currently working through the FEMA process to establish a claim for damages to the beach,” Mopps said. “And what we’ll hopefully be able to do is, through FEMA, re-establish additional dunes and additional beach for losses received from the storm.”

First, though, the town staff and consultants need to quantify and qualify the loss of sand for the FEMA claim, data which Mopps said will be available at the Nov. 12 workshop. 

Private property sand 

While the sand on GMD might not return to GMD, Mopps said there’s still an opportunity for sand on private property to be re-utilized on Longboat Key beaches. 

According to the Planning, Zoning & Building Department website, private property owners are “strongly encouraged” to remove contaminated sand using a private contractor or place it on the public right-of-way. If it’s moved to the right-of-way, it must be separated from other types of debris. 

But, private property owners can move clean sand back onto the beach. The town encourages this sand to be placed on the dune and berm areas, which act as a natural storm barrier. 

The PZB website states: “Clean sand is defined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as follows: In general, all fill material shall be sand that is similar to the pre-storm beach sand in coloration and grain size. It shall be free of debris, rock, clay, organic matter or other foreign matter and shall not result in cementation of the beach.”

For more information or any questions about placing clean sand back on beaches, contact the PZB Department at 941-316-1966.